Smokers, Death Benefit Arguments, and Poly-behavioral Addiction
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Do Governments Save Money by Watching Smokers Die Prematurely?
This was the conclusion of a report, commissioned by Philip Morris, who looked at the cost of smoking in the Czech Republic in 1999. They concluded that tobacco can save a government millions of dollars in health care and pensions because many smokers die earlier. They reported that the government had benefited from savings on health care, pensions and housing for the elderly that totaled $30 million - the "indirect positive effects" of early deaths (Arthur D. Little International, 2000).
I was shocked to hear this death benefit argument for the first time, after making a presentation to a group of professionals informing them that tobacco use is the chief avoidable cause of illness and premature death for over 430,000 Americans each year. It reminded me of the dialog in the movie, Traffic, when Michael Douglas playing a congressman/ drug czar asked a Mexican general (played by Tomas Milian), How do you treat your drug addict
Poly-behavioral Addiction, Sex Addiction, Gambling, Food Addiction, Religious Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug Addiction, Internet Addiction
Do Governments Save Money by Watching Smokers Die Prematurely?
This was the conclusion of a report, commissioned by Philip Morris, who looked at the cost of smoking in the Czech Republic in 1999. They concluded that tobacco can save a government millions of dollars in health care and pensions because many smokers die earlier. They reported that the government had benefited from savings on health care, pensions and housing for the elderly that totaled $30 million - the "indirect positive effects" of early deaths (Arthur D. Little International, 2000).
I was shocked to hear this death benefit argument for the first time, after making a presentation to a group of professionals informing them that tobacco use is the chief avoidable cause of illness and premature death for over 430,000 Americans each year. It reminded me of the dialog in the movie, Traffic, when Michael Douglas playing a congressman/ drug czar asked a Mexican general (played by Tomas Milian), How do you treat your drug addict
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